Navy men's soccer head coach John Hackworth unveiled a six‑player freshman class that will join the 2026 roster, bolstering the squad ahead of the upcoming season.
The newcomers — goalkeeper Keegan Cornett from Ponte Vedra Beach, midfielder Jack Illig of Phoenixville, midfielder Gavin McLain from Drexel Hill, forward Cohen Nance of Lakeland, forward Chase Paige of Chesapeake Beach, and forward Will Smith of Duluth — each bring strong high school credentials and leadership experience.
In addition, rising sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Howell, who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors at Le Jardin Academy, has been incorporated into the team during the spring semester.
The roster also features jersey number adjustments for sophomores Sam Clark and Luke Parker, who will now wear numbers 1 and 6 respectively.
Practice began on Tuesday, August 4, and the Midshipmen open the regular season on August 20 against UC San Diego, setting the stage for a competitive debut.
A New Era for the Midshipmen
With a blend of fresh talent and returning veterans, the Navy squad aims to maintain its tradition of excellence in collegiate soccer.